Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday met with Meretz leader Chaim Oron, who immediately informed the incoming prime minister that his party has no demands and does not plan to join his coalition.

**The US dollar strengthened against the new Israeli shekel on Thursday morning, trading at 4.18.

13:30: An Israeli motorist was targeted in a firebomb attack in Shomron near N’vei Tzuf. There were no injuries.

**Senior Likud official Dr. Yuval Shteinitz told Kol Chai Radio following the Thursday morning Kassam rocket attack stated a serious IDF operation in Gaza is called for, “not one that will teach them a lesson but an operation that will halt the rocket attacks”.

**Ofir Dekel arrived in Cairo early Thursday afternoon, carrying a list of names of terrorists that Israel is willing to release in exchange for Gilad Shalit.

**Gasoline prices are dropping on motzei Shabbos again, this time 0.8%. A liter of 95 octane will sell for NIS 5.04, the equivalent of $4.82 per US gallon.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)